12-year-old gets out of detention

15-year-old ordered to stay in custody for now

Highland County Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Greer is pictured during a hearing on Monday.

A 12-year-old girl ordered to remain in detention last week has been released into the temporary custody of her father.

The preteen is charged with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor offense, in relation to an incident on Feb. 2 that saw her and her 13-year-old co-defendant taken into custody.

On Monday in Highland County Juvenile Court, judge Kevin Greer said that new charges had also been filed, which according to the complaint include felony burglary and misdemeanor arson and criminal damaging.

She will be allowed to remain with her father temporarily, and was warned by the judge to go to school and do as her father tells her.

“If I have to talk to you again, you’re going back (to detention),” Greer said.

“Yes, sir,” she said.

Her 13-year-old co-defendant, Greer said, was to remain in detention. He is also facing new charges and probation violations on two previous cases.

The teenage male is charged with the same counts as his co-defendant, but in another case is charged with two additional felonies that include burglary and arson, as well as four misdemeanor charges.

He is on community control in two other cases involving breaking and entering and receiving stolen property.

Another male, age 15, was ordered to remain in detention on Monday after Greer heard from both his parents.

According to the court, the teenager was taken into custody over the weekend. A sheriff’s report states it was due to the 15-year-old’s altercation with a parent.

Greer asked each parent to give a recommendation on where their son should be placed, with the mother telling the court to not place the teenager with her right now.

“I can’t control him,” she said.

His father stated that he wants his son “to have help, whatever help is best for him.” He said that until his son’s possible mental health issues are taken care of, he didn’t believe his son’s behavior would change.

As the hearing progressed, the teenager buried his face in his shirt and cried, becoming increasingly emotional when the judge ordered him to return to the detention center.

Greer said he based his decision on the sheriff’s report and the parents’ statements.